New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-28
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

may not surprise will certainly larger circle OF
acquaintance than 1t has been the lot OF most men to
leave behind them. IL will doubtless seem TO many OF
them almost impossible that the spare erect form and
kindly faco OF Uncle Bill" will be seen In club
land again. aud that "rrayerss last will never give
place to his Every last anecote repartee Nor will
this OF loss be confined to men OF his own age or
thereabouts; he will be missed much by the youngster
OF the Racquet or Athetic.as by the Union club man.
There that about Mr. Travers which caused even
those VINO knew him slightly 10 regard him with teclng
akin to affection and which beyond even ms really WIZ
and eXhau-Gss fund OF story. made him the popular
man he was In whatever circle he for the moment found
himself $500
that the time ~ his death he In his sixty eighth
Syera AT yc ar stsnS private shooi in this civ.
Later he went to West Point. but for some reason or
another he did not remain there long but finished his
education at Columbia College from which he was
graduated la 1888. After leaving Columbia his health
therefore purchased and for summers lived in a
farmhouse not far from south Amboy which. though
"Trayers House" When his strength was fully re-
covered Mr. Travcrs spent short time "a junior clerk IN
foundation OF his business knowledge. Some years ater
he returned 10 Baltimore where he entered into bust
for himself as commission merchant III tho west
ideyrenely we'll hut I'm $50 reyerses came ana they
were forced 10 discontinue tho business and dissolve
Tor nearly hiryfve years has been Identified with
stock brokerage interests lie became member OF the
firm ~ T.. II. Muller Co. being admitted as member
OF the stock Exchange Ia July. lSj6.
he decided to leave the Muller CO. aud 20 into
been his close friend. The said have begun
business "A Joint capital OF 10000. but when few
creased 10 something S2.OO0.OOO Mr. Jerome re-
tired from business but Mr. ira'ers associated himself
with kowaisky aud through the failure OF jacob l,to
lost the greater part OF his fortune When the war Drok
tho market and soon made good his previous osse. In
1868 he Joined the firm OF Van rchaick Masset ana
percd exceedingly In 1870 he started the firm OF
Plume & Van Emburgh IN which he became speciai
partner while ho had also Interest IN the ntn or
elte. son since Mr. Traycrs has held interests In
than concern lie has been special partner
& Hickman and the Baltimore tea house Of Moale Arm
strong Co. This diversity OF interest renders u dil
tune but 1t has been variously estimated OF late
by his intimate friend ~ from three to I'VE
The lover figure il nearer the mark During latter
portion Of his business ca-eer his native sagaV ana
bined to make his every venture fortunate; -, a..
IL is however worthy 81 remark that While one OF the
more prominent Of his social character was his
breezy good humOr AMI tendency 10 LOOK on tc brightest
ado ~ things I'm his transactions stock Exchange
~, ' ~ ,e,ri, nI,,vs fouud on The bear siie
the market during the period OF the war referred
even greater than that which attended him In his bust
ness relations. and he leaves as ndeble marx on MS
generation a. sydney smith and Barham did on theirs;
hongh unlike them did commit his wit To paper
pitabe TO the last degree FOND OF society Oh every
class, story-teer born ne Iossessor OF INC icAes.
wit OF tho best cellars III New-lork MI IaVers
could not fail to ll large place in Tue social erVes Oh
New York In bis later years, though no one was onuer
OF the society OF his old inlluhtes lie deHsneu eNen
more in tho companlonshp OF bright yonns Me aro
their abundant stock or animal spirits MI
seemed draw strength and yvacity ana though never
I SoTSr e boy yG the S young friends
Ia the best Of the word lie was sportsman. 10
f ha as well Ss To those Of leonard " Jerome
Hunter. August Belmont and Paul Forbes that olhg III
trotting matches conducted under questionable
conditions lie was one cnG f a .s a f"rG oae
time owned a stable with John Hunter having among
their horses tho famous Kentucky f9r soe yT ar
ho had Akau
Athletic sports too owe not Htte 20 ME iIaNcaS ~
him the Racquet CLUB owes It's existence aa bc ec
usually gathered together the bestkn0wn people III
York I'm like manner the present prosperity OF the
New York Athletic tnb mainly due to him II was his
of the presidency at the earnest Somood
the membership TO something It's present state ana
rendered possible the building OF the hansom" oleJ
house In sixthave. Mr. fravers could nave PaIo'eu
Terenccs wellknown remark. and said that 10 mn w
branch OF sport unnteresng ON ms Deautiiu Nu"
Jersey country estate was large barn whete Oh viii
Sunday afternoons OF his friends WOuu gencI"p
gather to witness " main ills nans o' ,,t WAS
was probably due To his Nirginisn ancestry p' NH
curious Inconsistency character Otherwise 81 i'u
In early life Mr. Travers married Louisa. the fourth
daughter OF Reyordy Johnson tue wei-N1o"i n.
" hO WIS once the Minister 10 EhSIdhd nc iV"'''"
family OF nine children ,...
As has mentioned Travers readiness OF repar
tee one Of his most prominent charac.erst'a' Ib
m ot tAe genuine hnuOr of his stories wa, quo 10 t
telling. Afflicted with slight -tutet nc uTl'J ~, ~
the joke always heightened by the stamher wlIh
lent to It dramatic force whch was iI h,n aitrib
.l
hted To hin at various times the too"ihs ''o"'
n record: 49,, L.. .,n,o n
shortly before he left New-York for me ass uno
friend tired to cheer him mp by making Hght VI s 80, Nr
aud prophesylDg his speedy return. w. anI.
lrayers, " I've been burning the c-c-caluc ~ al
70 long that Eve got pprecions hea, tno VIZ and
To BaltlmOrean friend who met mn III We" oi ~
remarked g think you stanmcf more tn1n yo' -
now you've come To New-NUrk." " bpDISsel P'oe' was
the reply. - . ,, ,,or,
Driving I'm light buggy one day, he saw weii,khown
editor VINO weighs great deal nboFe wv ' a. e.
the sidewalk and drawing up, asked mn " 81 I,,1
don't know about that" said the editor, el opS a
,us pcously, Tm afraid Tm too ble IOr that Trap VI
yours "Oh. get In" said Trayers Ppeih"pS 'ou''
n-n- mot 50 bb-bg ~ you think you are - ,,,o. 90
An often-tOld story describes Mr. Trayers as g0Ins 70
Brooklyn by the Wall street ferry TO pay iohg uedlo
visit "A friend who lived In MontaguesL no "ilo t
ais way and meeting "a respectable LOOKING ~ sam
' C-c-an you d-ddirect me Ia NJ M0nta5uc-sI
" S-s-tfaight on 10 the ll-left SIR , .tr,y
" Nh-wl-at do mean by l1-m-ockihH NV %, $3.50
"B-Deg PIP pardon, I've an imp-ped!meh' ia ny
speech" -, r,.on,
"r-tthat's what I used to have sald Iravers
Wh-wh-by cont you gg-go TO Dr. Blank TIC cc-Cc"cu
me-" 1T, ..., 49,
A wellknOwn broker. VINO IS extremely balh ana eH-
remely fond OF telling from what small DeShhihs us
present fortune sprung. was frequently chhueu " u
Iravcrs You s-ssay you're "a s-s-seIhade n'-lhaH'
,ald he once
"Yes. Mr.. Travers, am"
Then wh-wh-why the ddAickens didn't you p-pput
more hair ont" =,
when the famous Vanderbilt fancy dress ball was
occupying the attention OF all New-fOrk tieie was hncl
discussion ia Wall street 10 appropriate costumes ana
A forth. Tho DuIneadcL broker mentioned asAed |